Councillors, parking wardens and machetes…just another day in Tower Hamlets politics

A parking warden claimed Councillor Anwar Khan threatened to fetch a machete and kill him during a row over a double yellow line infringement.

On the other hand, Anwar says he was the one fearing for his life after the warden had threatened him with that old East End promise of “I know where you live”.

Anwar says the warden is lying. I tend to believe him; he says he doesn’t even own a machete. After all, he’s an accountant, not a butcher.

But although this is all just normal knockabout stuff for Tower Hamlets politics, this incident in Spitalfields last June has a bit more significance to it.

This was the row that played a large part in the de-selection of Bow West councillor Anwar Khan from the Labour slate for May’s elections. It became the subject of a council investigation (as yet unresolved, as far as I understand) which was brought to the attention of Labour’s interviewing panel via Cllr Carlo Gibbs, the Tower Hamlets chief whip and now Anwar’s chief enemy.

The dispute was used a further evidence that Anwar–who, as the group’s previous chief whip, last year dragged Abdal Ullah back into the council chamber during a crucial budget vote–had an attitude problem.

After a series of interviews he was deselected in favour of his sister-in-law Asma Begum, a decision he didn’t really like.

Cllr Khan responded to Labour Leaders claims that the allegations of a stitch up was baseless, Khan said: “What more proof do you need the emails were black and white? I spoke out and was sacked and silenced. John Biggs rules the Labour councillors with an iron fist and the Group leader Sirajul Islam is just a puppet who’s there for the diversity shot.”

Khan has served as councillor for Bow West ward, alongside Joshua Peck and Ann Jackson, since 2010, and spent three years as the party’s Chief Whip as well as 3 years as Shadow Employment Spokesman. His deselection and demotion appear to stem from a bitter feud with Carlo Gibbs, councilor for St Peters and protégé of Labour Mayoral candidate John Biggs.

Gibbs succeeded Khan as Chief Whip and was responsible for preparing reports on each prospective candidate. It is understood that Mr Gibbs is now under official investigation himself after allegations of dishonesty.

Cllr Khan said: “I’m a proud member of the Labour party but in Tower Hamlets the culture of dodgy dossiers and secret trials is destroying the party – not just in Tower Hamlets, but in Harrow, Hackney and anywhere there’s a large ethnic minority population. Just a few weeks ago, Biggs wrote to me to say I was one of the ‘sharpest’minds in Labour Group. Now I’ve been deselected and demoted for speaking out.” This is hypocrisy.

Cllr Khan also revealed the extent of divisions in the Labour Group: “Biggs has surrounded himself with bullies and double-dealers and sitting councillors are increasingly worried about their seats.”

Cllr Khan also confirmed that John Biggs had taken image and presentation advice from him on a number of occasions after concerns were raised about the Mayoral candidate’s personal manner: “John has some interpersonal and presentational issues and I’ve advised him in the past on how to talk to people from diverse communities without alienating them. Clearly some of those lessons haven’t sunk in.”

I love the bit about John seeking “presentational advice”. From Anwar.

Which brings us back to High Noon in Spitalfields.

What follows is a lengthy transcript of Anwar’s interview with the council’s “independent” investigator, known here as MD. He’s a council officer.

You’ll see from the account that Anwar had partially parked on a double yellow as he dropped off his family in Spitafileds. He had left the engine running and says he had asked the warden for a few seconds while he tended to his child.

The warden apparently said ‘Computer says No’, Anwar said ‘Don’t you know I’m a councillor’, the warden said ‘I don’t care if you’re the Prime Minister’, Anwar said ‘I’m going to call Head of Paid Service Steve Halsey to tell him you need some customer service training and you might lose your job,’ and the warden then got a bit angry, allegedly.

I don’t have the warden’s version, but if Anwar’s is a fair account of what happened, then, although he might have been a bit high handed with his ‘I’m a councillor’ retort, I reckon sympathies might well lie with him.

All this is playing into Lutfur’s hands of course. He thinks he was the victim of a similar injustice by the Labour party. And that he never did anything wrong…

But for the avoidance of doubt, Anwar says there is no way he will defect or help Lutfur. Although he doesn’t deny Lutfur’s people are helping him drive a machete into Labour’s heart right now.

Here’s the transcript for your amusement.

Date 16/07/13 Time: 19:12-20:15

Investigation into a complaint made against Civil Enforcement Officer THxxx by Cllr Anwar Khan.

Process: MD explained that he was appointed by Mirsad Balokavic Head of Parking Services to carry out an investigation in to an alleged incident 20th June 2013. AK questioned whether MD believed that he was under pressure from his Service Head, Mr Jamie Blake. MD claimed this was not the case. AK reassured MD that he has taken steps to ensure the allegations made by Mr. Blake have been actioned and prior to the meeting, the Head of Paid Service confirmed that Mr. Blake will no longer play any part in this investigation due to the perceived interest he has. AK advised MD of the steps he should take if he feels threatened by Mr.Blake and should disregard his email not to seek any further information from AK.

Background: MD explained the context of his role as an independent investigator and gave Cllr Anwar Khan a brief on a number of investigations carried out in the past. AK reassured MD that he should not feel pressurised by the unorthodox intervention by his Service Head and that matter has been dealt with and the person removed. The reason for removal AK explained was due to breach of constitution by the officer.

MD:​ When you arrived into Casson Streetwas the CEO already there?

AK​: I parked up in front of my house I could see CEO through my windscreen. In the meantime, I unbuckled my son and held him in arms, I waited for CEO to approach, when CEO approached I asked him for some time (30sec) to drop son in to house which was approx less the 2 meters from the car. I asked him very politely and believed it was acceptable for such interaction with officers. the CEO’s tone was angry, he seemed annoyed at being asked a question. The CEO said “no you have no time and will have to move immediately or get a ticket”.

AK and his family were petrified at the response, AK states that he was confused that the officer was not following policy, as he states that there is allowance of 5 minute observation time. AK could not understand why the CEO was so angry. AK states had the CEO been honest and forthcoming providing accurate advise the altercation would not have arose. AK states that he believes that is the root cause of the matter, had the CEO followed the training he received training on customer services, then this situation would have been avoided. He questioned the officers ability to communicate clearly and felt that the officer should not performing a front line role if he cannot communicate. AK also commented that the officer presented an immediate risk to health and safety to the public and should be removed from duty. AK continues to worry about his safety, and states that he has not received the risk assessment Taft has been done and any written confirmation of what has been done to ensure his safety.

MD: ​You state that you were in the process of helping your family out of the Vehicle was the car was empty at the time the CEO arrived?

AK: ​My son was in the car seat, he was asleep, I was in the process of getting my son out of the car seat, the engine was still running, I requested for 30 seconds to drop son off. The CEO said no you must move your car now. AK asked politely and was shocked at the response. He was mortified that an officer could be so rude. The CEO’s response was “I will do what my job says, I don’t care if you are the Prime Minister, I will still put a ticket now unless you move it”.

AK said that he worked for the council and understood the councils observation policy and said that he will raise the matter with the Head of Paid Service that the CEO was not complying with policy. AK was very disappointed with the service that tax payers were receiving.

MD:​ Where were you when you first noticed the CEO?

AK: ​I was on site by my car waiting for CEO to arrive so I could speak to him. I asked the CEO politely if he could allow 30 seconds. The CEO asked me to move or I will get a ticket and started to make notes in his Pocket Book, I told him I need to take my son in to house, I left my son with family members at the door step and came back to move my car and park correctly.

MD: ​You state that your vehicle was half in the bay with the rear wheels on the double yellow line. Could you perhaps be mistaken of the position of your car?

AK: ​My car was half in bay and half on DYL, I made a genuine attempt to park correctlyin bay and managed to get 75% of the carin the bay. AK states that it was genuine attempt to park the car, as a responsible driver he assessed the corner and believed it was adequate for emergency vehicles to pass through.

MD: ​Why was your engine still running if you could get no further into the bay?

AK: ​Because I was planning to move into another bay after dropping family members off. It was going to be a 30 second process – to literally walk 5 meters to put my son to bed and return to park try car.

AK added when during peak times, there is a shortage of parking, he has an arrangement with a friend who has a driveway off Buxton Street. There was no intention for his car to be left there for longer than 30 seconds, probably less. AK added, in his 12 year driving career he has only had received 2 tickets.

MD: ​Once you had dropped your son off inside the house and returned to your car did you say anything to the CEO?

AK: ​Yes I said I will call the council to speak Steve Halsey to clarify the policy. I asked the CEO for his name and Number herefused. I had to catch sight of his number as he was walking away towards Chicksand street.

MD: ​Did you say “you can’t issue me with a ticket? If you try it I will show you. You don’t know who I am I will make sure you lose your job”.

AK​: No, I said I know council very well andas a Labour Cllr I will never say something like that. I know very well the council policy is 5 minutes Observation time. There were no red line or kerb marks which I know is a different policy.

AK added that the CEO made comments, “I don’t care who you are, even if you are prime minister you will get a ticket”, AK was in the process of making a all to Mr. Halsey and at no point made those comments.

MD: ​What did you say to the CEO when he slammed the door against you? What was your reaction?

AK​: I was shocked and astonished; therewere scaffolding on street between him and my car. I did not think CEO will conduct himself so badly. He challenged me to put a report in to the council and that he will fight it all the way. He said he has been doing the job for 20 years andnobody has ever reported him for this kind of stuff.

MD:​ Was there any injuries sustained and if so did you seek medical attention?

AK had to rest for several days. He did not require to take time off work as he was on annual leave.

MD: ​At the time that the officer slammed the door against your arm and shoulder, you state that the car directly in front of you moved away. Did the driver of the car in front witness any of this incident?

AK:​ He must have as he was walking to thecar; there were two members of public

MD​: Why did he not assist you?

AK: ​I did not know the driver of car. There was nothing to assist even though the officer was violent and threatening – however people expect such violence from CEO’s.

MD: ​When the officer said to you “Come here tomorrow, I will kill you” were there any witnesses to this?

AK: ​CEO was on opposite side of the street my wife and mum were witness. Somalian woman who I saw next day said that she heard a parking attendant shouting although she could not hear what was said.

AK states that his wife and mother witnessed this. They were all frightened and required additional security measures applied to the property to ensure the officer cannot return.

MD: ​Did the police take statements from these witnesses?

AK​: There was no witness at the time I saw a Somalian lady the next day.

MD:​ Did the police take a statement from your wife?

AK: ​No she had gone out. They also did not ask, otherwise she would have been happy to do so.

MD:​ The officer states that you got into your car and moved it back approximately 12 inches and said “See I told you, you can’t do me”

AK:​ No, because he could have still given me a ticket if he wanted. I didn’t say anything like that. I had to move my vehicle to let other car out. The officer is desperate to make anything seem like a material point, there is nothing contradictory to the Highway Code for reversing to allow another vehicle pass. This is a nonsense point.

MD:​ Where were you when the police turned up?

AK: ​I was across the road trying to get CEO Name & Number while I was waiting for police.

MD:​ The police told you the Civil Enforcement Officer had made a counter allegation. Do you know what that was?

AK: ​Something like I was going to get a machete to kill him, this allegation was made after police informed him I made an allegation.

MD: ​Do you have a CAD or incident number from the police?

AK: ​Yes in I have it in the Car. Can you tell me what the number is? I no longer have this. Anyway this is not a matter for public perusal.

MD: ​Have you contacted the police regarding their investigation?

AK: ​No they sent email to stating not enough evidence to pursue the case. Could I possibly have a copy of the email?

M:D ​There was no mention of any witnesses in the statement made on the day to THEO THxxx

AK: ​Other than family

MD:​ You supplied the names of some witnesses and you mentioned that there was a plain cloths police officer attending to a domestic. Do you know why this officer did not intervene at the time this incident took place?

AK: ​He did not see the incident he only saw tail end of me requesting name & Number from the CEO. He didn’t give name or number so I followed him to Chicksand Street.

MD: ​Did you have conversation with Member of Public who had just received a ticket from this officer.

AK: ​No

MD: ​How did you know he was a plain cloths police officer and did you manage to get his name?

AK: he showed his card to the officers who came to restrain the violent officer. Note that the officer was running away from the incident when they arrived, police had to shout after him and run after him.

The above statement is true and made to the best of my knowledge and belief.

38 Responses

As a a one off incident it is a bit of a storm in a teacup. One person’s word against another’s. You wouldn’t get deselected for this. No, he was kicked out because someone senior in the party wanted him out.

The funny thing is that Anwar blames Biggs. who probably doesn’t care much about him either way, and Carlo, who is just a messenger boy.

He still doesn’t get that exactly the same thing happened at the last selection to Josh’s Bow West colleague Anwara Ali. She was so furious that she ran for the Tories which is why most people have forgotten about her. She lost everybody’s sympathy.

So much for Blue Monday. I’ve not laughed so much since Labour Cllr Shelina Akhtar got banged up! But seriously, is Anwar okay? He sounds like he could genuinely do with some sort of psychiatric help. After all, when you add clearly delusional behaviour with paranoia and violent rage – what do you get?

What concerns me is that someone with this sort of character deficit and so prone to having the sort of temper tantrums you’d only expect from a maladjusted child or a crack head has somehow managed to get so far in the THLP.

I wonder if he will continue to tell these ridiculous lies to the police and dig that hole he’s in just a little deeper?

There is a movie in the cinema called The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It’s based on James Thurber’s short story published in the New Yorker and is one of my all time favourites. Anwar like Walter lives a fantasy life and is absolutely incapable of distinguishing reality from fiction.

Yes there is tokenism and institutional racism in the Labour Party but it’s nothing like what this little shithouse describes. Far too many white colleagues are impressed with BME candidates; members or councillors because they speak well, have a degree or go to work in a suit rather than overalls.

Anwar Kahn: ‘Sirajul Islam is just a puppet who’s there for the diversity shot’, are you seriously suggesting that you were there for your brain? If so you are even more delusional than I thought. Being deselected is embarrassing particularly when your Sister in law and your Brother who you ridicule (that is how disgusting you are), is selected. Get over it.

He’s really pissed on his chips this time. There are plenty of people in the party that saw you for what you are, the only thing that has changed is now everyone else can.

PS

Give us all a good laugh and have the balls to turn up to the full council meeting.

I used it because of the parallels between them both. Someone with a bright future in the Labour Party throws it away because he can’t stop running his mouth. Fine, be a hero, see where it gets you and the causes you believe in.

“John has some interpersonal and presentational issues and I’ve advised him in the past on how to talk to people from diverse communities without alienating them. Clearly some of those lessons haven’t sunk in.”
“Just a few weeks ago, Biggs wrote to me to say I was one of the ‘sharpest’
minds in Labour Group. Now I’ve been deselected and demoted for speaking out.”

Biggs had better hope Anwar hasn’t got any evidence to support this. Now that would be deeply embarrassing.

It is possible that Anwar has known about the racial split in Harrow Labour Party before I drew attention to it but I doubt it and it now a part of the folk law of the “blame it on whitey and institutional racism” faction that seems to rear its head every time someone from an ethnic minority didn’t get what they wanted. The racial equivalent of throwing the toys from the pram.

I see oldford1 isn’t paying attention at the back of the class again. I agree it would be interesting to see the evidence of Anwar’s claims and I find it rather interesting that he hasn’t produced it yet. It could be that he has a long term worked out strategy where he lures Biggs into an ambush consisting of a series of compromising emails that will of course cost Biggs the election. I’m not olding my breath.

As we have moved on a few articles I will finish the Telegraph article here.

” IFE controlled groups have fared best, gaining hundreds of thousands of pounds. More than 60 per cent of the grants under the ” community faith buildings scheme” have gone to Muslim organisations thoughTower Hamlets is only 34 per cent Muslim. Even in many non religious activities, the majority of grants for lunch clubs, children’s services, study support, language classes, youth services and lifelong learning have been channeled to Muslim groups, often at the expense of established organisations serving the whole community.Thousands of pounds are also to be paid to Rahman allies to organise events and parties in the run up to the election.

As councillors at the scrutiny hearing said, this spending was ” not benefiting the borough as a whole” but ” being directed to certain areas where the Mayor has the majority of his voter base”. The council refused to answer questions from The Sunday Telegraph about about the grants merely saying that it had ” followed the relevant laws, guidance and policies”.

( It will be recalled that this quotation was used by oldford1 to justify the sale of the town hall at at least a tenth of its real value when in fact the council official who used it referred to the grants. Not the first time oldford1 as been economical with the truth).

But, responding to the scrutiny committee. Mr Rahman was defiant. Although ( council) officers may (have) come to the view that an application is poor and/or that it should not receive funding, there are from time to time cases where projects are worth supporting in view of the perceived community benefits” he said”. so there then, that’s all right!

The rest is quotes from Peter Golds, John Biggs et al.

All of this makes no difference to May unless it is utilised by Biggs and Labour and at the moment there is no sign that it is. As Gilligan pointed out, Rahman has total control of the Bangladeshi media and the purse strings. There are more than enough non Bangladeshi votes out there but they have to be mobilised and Labour simply isn’t doing that. The one issue of the noise from the festivals in Victoria Park will win the election and it is not being exploited. Later today or tomorrow I will detail a strategy which, if followed, will win Labour the election.

Remember John, no one likes a loser and if you can’t win on your own patch expect a lot of young guns to be after your seat on the London Assembly. The accusation will be that you went through the motions because you already had a day job.

Dan,
that’s not the case. Biggs was not elected on the list – he is a constituency member (unlike Nicky Gavron, Murad Qureshi, Fiona Twycross and ex TH member Tom Copley in respect of whom what you say would be true).

Perhaps if Anwar had made as much fuss about something good he has done for the people who vote, rather than pursue petty squabbles and make ridiculous allegations he continues to be unable to substantiate he might have been better off.

Is it a sign that Mayor Lutfur is devoid of supporters of substance that he as had to wheel out the array of ones that he did for is fundraiser. I am sure the lady who is concerned with the re-opening of Poplar Baths is an estimable pillar of the local community as is the Catholic gentleman, although what His Holiness would make of Lutfur’s support for Saudi clerics who want to kill Catholics I can’t imagine.

The intervention of Simon Wooley of the strangely named Operation Black Vote is no surprise as he will get on any stage that will lead to a grant, but I was intrigued by the presence of one Rizwan Hussain billed as a Bangladeshi TV presenter. He may well be that but it was his other accomplishments that interested me.

Various internet entries claim that he is a qualified barrister and former policeman as well as having been an accomplished singer of Hindi film songs before he became a TV presenter and fundraiser for various Islamic charities including Muslim Aid which has been accused of funding terrorists.

What an incredible CV I thought, I’ll have a further look at this guy. Well the first hole in the story is that The General Council of The Bar have no record of anyone of that name being admitted as a barrister since 1960. He could have been admitted before but that would make him quite old.

He was also involved in a bizarre incident at Dhaka airport were he allegedly strayed into the wrong area, was suspected of people trafficking and beaten up by airport staff. I haven’t got to the bottom of the claim that he was a copper yet but if anyone has information on this or anything else about him get in touch with me on themadmullahofbricklane@gmail.com. I think there is something here.

Also, whoever is doing the FoI into ethnic minority minority grants, could you look at the possibility of OBV getting money from Tower Hamlets for some kind of Somali civic engagement programme.?

Just had a call from Loughborough about this gentleman. Try Rizwan Hussain Rome or Rizwan Hussain in Rome on Google. The comments below are hilarious and his Bengali is very basic. Also, look at the number of Bangladeshis in Rome!

Labour Insider. We don’t know this. All we know is that the attendant left the job possibly because of the stress the whole thing had caused him. I don’t think that I would work for the minimum wage to be threatened with machetes and interviewed by the police.

You seem to be saying that the whole incident was either engineered by Labour or blown up out of all proportion in order to get rid of Anwar. Your evidence for this?

I’ve read the comment thread and I can’t see what your point is especially the bit about a wallflower. I understand that parking attendant is a job with a particularly high turnover of labour even without someone threatening you.

Anyway, if you would like to explain to us all what you mean I am sure we would be grateful.

I tell you what, Graham, why don’t you show us your evidence that this guy earns minimum wage and that his job is high turnover?
After all, you make a big thing about people providing evidence to prove what they say, while you make efforts to reinvent yourself as an investigative journalist. Show us the facts. Or are you just making the facts up?

Grave Maurice. In the article below about Lutfur’s fundraising you mentioned that Operation Black Vote were involved in the Mayor’s Community Champions scheme. What is your evidence for that?

I ask, because enquiries yesterday to the council’s public relations department about that and any other funding to OBV have met with a complete refusal to divulge any information at all to the extent of phones being put down. There is clearly a very large rodent here that should be exterminated.

While we are on the subject what exactly are these “Champions”doing and how much do they cost the tax payers of Tower Hamlets?

A friend of mine made inquiries to LBTH after OBV attended and sought to direct “The Mayor Asks You to Decide” meetings supposedly organised by the MCCCs. This is the response he received from a female officer at LBTH who I won’t name here:

“Operation Black Vote (OBV) have been contracted to support the delivery of the training and development of the Community Champion Coordinators (CCC) only. OBV have had no involvement in the recruitment process or in any decision making process in regards to the CCC or the Local Community Ward forums (LCWF) and neither will they in the future. OBV undertook to fulfil this contract in adherence to both Tower Hamlets and their own Equal Opportunities policy, without racial bias or favouritism. OBV will continue to support the training and development of the CCC.

The recruitment of the CCC was tendered out and awarded to an independent organisation (Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets VCTH) with a strong record in the field of recruiting volunteers and the recruitment of CCCs represent broadly the composition of the borough.”

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